BJ21.com Newsletter
May 29, 2009   090529

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Compiled by Al Rogers
 Al@bj21.com


Police charge patron with killing worker inside Taj Mahal casino ...


ATLANTIC CITY - Mark Magee appeared a bit stunned as he walked into court shackled this afternoon. The 57-year-old Pennsylvania man is accused of targeting and killing casino shift manager Raymond Kot inside the Taj Mahal Casino.

... NJ murder suspect accused casino of cheating ...


A Philadelphia television station says a man accused of fatally shooting an employee at a casino in Atlantic City, N.J., wrote a letter dated two days before the killing in which he accused the casino of cheating.

... Casino gunman planned suicide, sent note

A regular casino visitor, having just shot and mortally wounded a worker at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, planned to kill himself in a parking garage but was stopped by police, a casino executive said.


Harrah’s to issue $1 billion in debt in private offering

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. has announced plans to issue $1 billion in new debt.

Court postpones hearing on Trop bonuses


ATLANTIC CITY - Discussion on the validity of a plan by Tropicana Casino and Resort to pay more than $1 million in bonuses to about 20 top executives has been postponed to June 12.

Casino Control Commission member to quit, leaving just three on board


ATLANTIC CITY — A top casino regulator is leaving his job to take a high-level post with the bistate agency that operates airports and other transportation facilities serving New York and New Jersey.

Time was right to dump Pansy Ho -- Regulators lost fear of MGM clout


Economic and political realities can make a big difference in the highly charged worlds where multibillion-dollar business deals are assembled.

Deadwood holding steady in gaming industry


DEADWOOD -- The 2009 summer tourism season is under way, and Deadwood gambling industry officials say early indicators show Deadwood's visitation numbers will be at or above 2008 figures.

Companies may be hired to run sold-off properties 


Executives pushed out in consolidation may find themselves back in business.

Scratch Off the NFL and Find More Gambling Greed


Just days after filing a brief with the Delaware Supreme Court to fight expanded gambling by that state's lottery, the National Football League has agreed to let teams put logos and trademarks on scratch-off tickets and brand other lottery games, for a piece of the action.

Delaware sports betting: How will it play out for bettors?


The NFL, whose foundation of support is reinforced by wagering, is publicly saying that it will file a lawsuit to prevent the law’s implementation, but no one in Delaware is taking that too seriously.

World Series of Poker kicks off in Las Vegas

The World Series of Poker landed in Las Vegas on Tuesday as registration opened and satellites and cash games began.

Fresh faces join push to build casinos in Bay State

The renewed quest on Beacon Hill to legalize gambling has attracted a fresh set of casino interests to Massachusetts, promising another high-dollar lobbying blitz in coming months by developers sensing potential for a big jackpot.

“Mr. Casino” found guilty by jury

NEW LONDON, CT -  Richard “Mr. Casino” Taylor was found guilty by a jury today on criminal charges related to a casino craps cheating scheme.

Saskatoon man says he stole $600,000 from casino ATMs

"I don't have a right excuse," Alain Germain told CBC News on Wednesday. "I've done it. I will live up to everything."

Craps player sets a record at the Borgata in Atlantic City

While playing craps at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa on Saturday night, Patricia Demauro of Denville set a new record for the longest craps roll by hanging on for four hours and 18 minutes. Borgata officials said that bested the previous mark of three hours and six minutes, set nearly 20 years ago at a Las Vegas casino.

Thanks to newsletter reader Kevin Q. for providing the above link.

Still no deal for turning Atlantic City's Trump Marina into Margaritaville


ATLANTIC CITY - A New York gaming group that is in talks to buy Trump Marina Hotel Casino says the deal will not close this week as scheduled but that it still wants to acquire the property.

Harmon flaws haven’t brought big fallout -- County hearings on inspections delayed

LAS VEGAS - It has been almost a year since an engineer discovered that the Harmon Hotel at CityCenter was riddled with construction problems.

Why consolidating city and county governments isn’t a silver bullet for waste

Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman was in an expansive mood. Having castigated the state’s most powerful union, demanded an apology from the president of the United States and declared the Las Vegas economy saved, Goodman, standing behind the podium at last month’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon, was asked about CityCenter, the massive resort, casino and condo development being built on the Strip.

Gibbons, Goodman are disappointed Obama didn't say 'magic words' 


Both the governor of Nevada and the mayor of Las Vegas declared themselves disappointed Wednesday after President Barack Obama only sorta kinda said it’s good to come to Las Vegas.


The Bear Growls


Long-time Las Vegas-based advantage player, casino critic, and frequent BJ21.com contributor LVBear offers his opinions on things that sometimes go wrong in the world of casinos.  Current and past growls can be read and comments posted at LVBear's website, TheBearGrowls.com


Casino-ology  by Bill Zender      Casino-ology provides contrarian solutions to common gaming management issues.  It is must reading for patrons and casino employees.

Bill Zender knows the art of casino management. In addition to having worked in, managed, and owned casinos for decades, Zender has also been an enforcement agent for the Nevada Gaming Control Board, as well as spent time as an advantage player, exploiting the vulnerabilities of casinos from the civilian side of the tables. Today, he travels the globe consulting for the international casino industry.

In Casino-ology, Zender argues against excessive card-counter and shuffle-tracker countermeasures in favor of hand production to increase profits, and concludes that rhythmic dice rollers aren.t the threat they.re made out to be. He details the dangers of customer-service breaches; ill-conceived non-negotiable-chip programs; and past-posting, marked-card, and false-shuffle scams. He addresses player tracking systems, 6-5 payouts for blackjacks, the subtleties of marketing to Asian customers, nuances of the derivative pit games, even the science of turning around a distressed casino.

By challenging long-cherished conventions, Casino-ology provides contrarian and radical, but proven, solutions to common gaming issues.

The price is $39.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada address).  Order Casino-ology by Bill Zender.


Beat the Players - Casinos, Cops and the Game Inside the Game, by Bob Nersesian

This book should be read by everyone who sets foot in a casino: average casino patrons, skilled players, casino employees, and anyone else. It should be required reading for police officers, regulators, other public officials, and attorneys who may represent any of the aforementioned. Beat the Players was the subject of a feature in USA Today.

Bob Nersesian is an attorney who represents victims of casino wrongdoing against patrons. In an enjoyable writing style, he takes a look at the often too-cozy relationship between casinos, police, and regulators. He discusses specific cases and dispenses sound, practical advice that patrons, casinos and public officials would be wise to heed. Cases discussed are from Nevada and other jurisdictions.

Chapters include: Your Money or Your Liberty; Scary Cop Statements; They'll Take Your Liberty Anyway; Gaming Agents Speak; The Take of the State; Rules for Casino Patrons; Gambling at the Legal Limits; Cops Hate Card Counters; Griffin Investigations; Casinos Cheat With Impunity; A Judicial and Government Overlay; Finding a Nickel Brings Trouble; Names and Aliases; The Security Office and Surveillance Functions, and Casinos and Cops.

Appendices include Nevada Cheating and Detention Laws with Commentary; Other Nevada Gaming Laws of Interest; Gaming Cases of Interest, and Nevada Gaming Regulations with Commentary.

The 320-page book includes a bibliography and an index.

The price is $19.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada address). Green Chip members get their normal 10% discount      .Order Beat the Players.


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Current Blackjack News

On the 1st and 2nd of every month, a couple dozen Pi Yee Press reporters visit casinos around the United States to check on the blackjack rules and playing conditions. Five of those reporters split up Las Vegas and visit every casino in town. Any changes in rules and playing conditions that they find, they email to the CBJN editor, who compiles them into a newsletter that is published late in the afternoon on the 3rd. That report is available as a single issue, your choice of e-mail or regular mail. The price of a single issue is $13 for electronic or $16 for regular mail.  Sample issue of  Current Blackjack News.

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